TPersonal Notification Templates allow you to easily create system-generated notifications such as TUSLA PNs, Absent PNs, and Late PNs, as well as custom notifications for Parent Teacher Meetings, weather warnings, school closures, and other frequently sent messages. With the “Custom” template type, you can create and save messages for regular use—saving you time and eliminating the need to retype or copy and paste previous notifications. Simply set up your templates in advance, and when creating a new Personal Notification, select the template that best fits your message. In this article, we’ll guide you through setting up templates and explain the different types available.
Create a PN Template:
- Go to your Dashboard and hover over Personal Notifications from the menu
- In the dropdown, choose PN Templates
- Add in the top right corner of the screen
- Select the Template Type (see explanations below)
- Enter a Title for your template
- Enter the Content of your template
- Tap Submit to save your template
Edit a PN Template:
- Go to your Dashboard and hover over Personal Notifications from the menu
- In the dropdown, choose PN Templates
- Tap on the Edit icon beside the template you wish to modify
- Make the desired changes
- Submit
⚠️ Please Note:
The Absentee Outstanding option are only available to schools using the Attendance Form Management (AFM) system.
If your school does not currently use AFM but would like to learn more, please get in touch for more information.
Understanding Template Types
Custom
This is the primary template type most staff will use. The Custom Template allows you to create messages for recurring communications, such as school closures, weather warnings, or parent/teacher meetings. Save time by creating a custom template for any message you send regularly—whether weekly, monthly, or even daily.
Attendance Templates
(See suggested templates in the next section)
Absentee
Sent from the Absent tab in the Attendance Overview, this template is used to notify parents/guardians of an accumulation of student absences that has become a concern. It includes the total days absent, based on your attendance system, so parents are fully informed.
Late
Sent from the Late tab in the Attendance Overview, this template is used to alert parents/guardians about multiple late arrivals. It provides the total number of late arrivals, as recorded by the Unique Schools Digital Sign-In Tablet, to keep parents aware of the situation.
Absentee Outstanding
Sent only from the Absent Request Forms Outstanding section of the Administrator’s App, this template reminds parents they have unexplained absences needing attention in the "Attention Please" section. Completing these forms ensures the school has a complete record of explanations for all absences.
TUSLA Templates
Tusla Option 1 – 4
These pre-set templates can be edited as needed in the PN Templates section. They are used for notifying parents at key absence thresholds—such as after 5, 10, 15, and 20+ days of absence. Thresholds can be customised in the TUSLA section of the Attendance Overview.
Example Suggested Templates
Absentee Notification
We are sending this notification to bring to your attention that your student’s level of absence is a cause for concern. If there is an ongoing issue you would like to discuss, please contact the Year Head. To submit the required notes, please proceed to the “Attention Please” section of the app.
— The Attendance Team
Late Notification
Your student has had a number of late arrivals, as noted above. We are concerned about this pattern and wanted to bring it to your attention. Habitual lateness can lead to absenteeism and negatively impact your student’s academic achievement, as well as disrupt classes for both teachers and other students.
Please discuss with your student how you can help them arrive at school on time. If there is an ongoing issue contributing to their late arrivals, or if there is anything we can do to help, please contact the Year Head at any time. To submit the required notes, please proceed to the “Attention Please” section of the app.
— The Attendance Team
Absentee Outstanding Notification
When your student is absent from school, we ask parents/guardians to submit an Absence Form through the app. If a note is not received, the school will send an Absence Request Form requesting completion and submission of the required note.
At this time, we have several outstanding Absence Request Forms for your student, as noted above. The school is legally obligated to provide attendance records to the Department of Education and Tusla. It is therefore essential that all attendance forms are submitted promptly.
If you are experiencing any technical issues with submitting forms, please email support@uniqueschools.ie. For further guidance or assistance, contact the school office or the Year Head. To submit the required notes, please proceed to the “Attention Please” section of the app.
— The Attendance Team